Campaign diary: A lesson in crowd pleasing

Tana mana

Prime Minister Helen Clark took her campaign to Lower Hutt yesterday to launch the local version of youth outdoor education scheme Project K. But she might be thankful that All Black hero Tana Umaga, a trustee of the scheme, is not standing against her. Umaga stole the show with a short speech in which he said he had not noticed the standing ovation as he took the field in Saturday's test. "I was trying to get my pants off without tripping up," he said. "I'll tell you, I was pretty buggered after that game."

Venomous attack

According to Winston Peters, there is a Black Widow spider at large on the hustings. He says Prime Minister Helen Clark is like a spider that has woken for a mid-winter election it initially hoped voters wouldn't notice. The Black Widow also began to eat its mate, the Greens, when they stood up for their anti-GM principles.

What's on the box

The Sky television debate tonight may be David Carter's last appearance as National's finance spokesman. Former Reserve Bank governor Don Brash is expected to take over the job after the election. The live show on Sky's channel 54 at 8.30pm will be the only televised economic debate, and will feature Finance Minister Michael Cullen, Mr Carter, Act's Rodney Hide, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Green candidate Roland Sapsford.

They said it:

"We say to Labour, you stop telling lies about NZ First and we will stop telling the truth about you."

- Winston Peters on the party he might go into coalition with.

"I'm not really interested in discussing any other party this week."

- Prime Minister Helen Clark decides that staying mum is better than going on the offensive.

"Good Lord. Really, that is great news."

- United Future leader Peter Dunne expresses surprise at a poll putting his support at almost 7 per cent.

Where the leaders are:

* Helen Clark campaigns in Wairarapa.

* Bill English heads to Auckland and the North Shore.

* Winston Peters campaigns in Auckland.

* Green co-leader Rod Donald attends a public meeting in New Plymouth; colleague Jeanette Fitzsimons launches the party's transport policy at Newmarket Station in Auckland.

* Richard Prebble holds a public meeting in Christchurch.

* Jim Anderton opens a Customs inspection base in Auckland, visits Hauraki District Council in Paeroa and attends a meeting in South Auckland.

* Laila Harre addresses students in Auckland.

* Peter Dunne campaigns in Wellington.

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